OLD QUARTER REVIEWGood to know, before you go
We wrote this page by sitting in your seat: a first time visitor, in a new city, who wants honest prices, food they can eat safely, and a booking they can trust. These are the standards we hold ourselves to.
Prices we actually paid
Every video shows the price we paid on screen, with the date we filmed it. No staged bargains, no prices from last year.
No paid praise, ever
Reviews are never bought. If a place is connected to my family or to Bao Son, the video and the page say so, openly.
Dietary and spice notes
Every food story notes vegetarian options, common allergens and how spicy a dish honestly is, before you order it.
Clear English, with captions
Suzy speaks slowly and clearly on camera, and every video carries full English captions you can read at your own pace.
Money and fair prices
Carry small cash notes. Street stalls and small cafes are often cash only, and small notes make paying the exact price easy.
Before any ride, agree the price or check the app estimate first. We show fair ranges in our videos so you can spot a bad quote fast.
If a price feels wrong, smile and walk away. In the Old Quarter there is almost always a fair stall one street over.
Food, dietary and spice
Vegetarian visitors eat well here: look for the word chay, which marks vegetarian food, and tell us in advance so a tour can plan around it.
Tell any food seller about allergies clearly and early. Peanuts, shellfish and fish sauce appear in many dishes.
Spice is personal, so our reviews rate it plainly: no heat, warm, or properly hot, and we say which dishes can be made milder.
Safety and peace of mind
The Old Quarter is lively and generally safe, but pavements are busy. Walk in the road edge where locals walk, and cross slowly and steadily, traffic flows around you.
Keep phones and bags on the building side of the pavement, away from passing motorbikes.
Book tours only with a licensed company that gives you a written quote. You should never be asked to pay a guide in cash in the street.
Heat, walking and comfort
Hanoi heat is real. Our walks favour mornings and evenings, with cafe stops built in as natural rest breaks.
Carry water, wear shoes you can walk in for two hours, and expect uneven pavements and the odd step up or down.
Routes on this site are short, most under one and a half kilometres, and every stop can be skipped without breaking the walk.
Booking and trust
You message us, we reply within 12 hours, and Bao Son Travel sends a written plan and price before you decide anything.
You pay the company directly, never a person in chat. What is included is written line by line in your quote.
Dates change? Tell us early. Your written quote from the company states its own change and cancellation terms, in plain English.
Families and kids
Evening food walks suit families best before the late night crowds. Morning craft walks are the calmest option with children.
Tell us the ages of your kids when you write. The team can shorten routes, add ice cream stops and avoid the spiciest dishes.
Pavements can be tight for wide strollers on the busiest streets, so a carrier works better for babies on market nights.
Ready when you are. The walks are free to follow on your own, and the private versions are run by a licensed team.